Indicator for cooking ranges



Allg- 1'9, 1952 c. M. MAYER 2,607,316

INDICATOR FOR COOKING RANGS Filed July l, 1949 2 Sl-IEETS-SI-IEET 1 4 n x/5 2 Z 3o Z 5o 30 5d LA l G #6,0 @y @2 2./ Z- K /Z v /Z 97 f/ 7 f j LQ INVENTO.

ETE E i f Allg- 19 1952 c. M. MAYER 2,607,316

INDICATOR FOR COOKING RANGEs Filed July 1, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I N VEN TOR. CHHPL 5 /W MA YEA;

Patented Aug. 19, y 1952 UNITED 1 STATES PATENT oEElcEv INDICATOR Foa COOKING nAN'GEs Charles M. Mayer, Manseldpohio, assgnorto The Tappan Stove Compan Mansielm Ohio, acorporation of Ohio .n l original application Apri1}1'3,"194s,' serial No.

20,678- Diviaeaana this) pplieetien July 1, 1949, seria1No.102,53z d Y This invention relates to an indicating mechheating element is operating and whether it is Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. `3

2 claims. (o1. 1164129) Fig. 'lis a- View similar to Fig. 3 -showing a slightly modified form of my invention;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the indicator shown in Fig. '7; and

setfor low, medium orhigh heat. This applica- 5 Fig. r9 is a vertical section'taken cn the line tion is a division of my co-pending application 9--9 of Fig. 7. Y l Serial Number 20,678 led April 13, 1948, upon Referring now to the drawings by reference Which application PatentNo. 2,494,892 WaSSSlled characters, thev numeral indicates generallyra on January 17, 1950. gas cooking'range of the divided top type wherein The inventionfcomprises a pair f discs which 1o a pair'of burners 2 are mounted one behind the are disposed in axial alignment with eachother other adjacent each side of the range. The Within a stationary ring which is vsecured t0 and burners 2 are located in top burner compartments eXtendS outwardly I'Om the front Of a COOkng 3' and Yhave suitable utensil-supporting grates L range. The valve stem by which a burner is condisposed over them. The top of the range has tIOlleCl PIOJ'eCtS Out thrngh aligned aXal aIJeI'- 15 a splash back 6 extending upwardly from the rear tures inthe discs and has an operating handle edge thereof; Beneath each of the burner comremovably secured to the outer end thereof adpartments 3 isa storage compartment which is jacent the outermost disc. One of the discs is closed by a door 1. Between the storage com- Secured t0 the Stationary ring and the Other ring partments isanV oven and a broiler which are is secured to the valve stem for rotation theredosed by doors '8 and 9 respectively. The nuwith. One of the discs is opaque and has a Winmerals Ill and I| indicate handles by which the dow therein; and the other disc hasa translucent doors 8 and 9 are opened and closed. An escutchportion with indicia thereon for showingwhether eonvplate l2 is removably secured to the front a burner iS Set fOI 10W medium 0I high heat. .A `wall I3 of each of the burner compartments 3 small electric bulb is mounted behind the pair above the door-1. of discs in position to project light through the Gas isv supplied tothe burners 2 from a com- `translucent portion of one of the discs and mon manifold I4 through valves I5 which conthrough the window of the other disc when the trol the operation of the burners, there being bulb is energized. The energization of the bulb provided a separate valve for each burner. The iscontrolled by a Suitable switch which is Opened 3o valves |5iare secured to the manifold I4 which and ClOSed by the Valve Stem- The TelatVe pOS- is held in place by suitable means, not shown. tion of the window and the translucent portion Each valve I5 has an operating stem I5 which with respect to each other indicates the setting extends forwardly from its valve through an of the burner. The invention is shownv and deopening |'I in the Wall I3 and an enlarged openscribed herein as applied to a gas range, but it ing I8 inthe escutcheon plate I2. The outer will be Obvious that it can be applied to an elecend of each valve stem I6 has a flattened portion tric range equally Well. I9 and is slotted as indicated at 20. An operating The principal object of the invention is to prohandle 2 I, by which a valve stem I6 is rotated vide a simple efficient and ornamental mecha- Y to open and close a valve l5, is frictionally senism for indicating the setting of a cooking range cured'to the outer end of each valve stem` I6, so burner. -that it can be readily removed and replaced as Other and morelimited objects of the invendesired. The attened portions I9 of the valve tion Will be apparent from the following specistem I6 which cooperate with complementary cation and the accompanying Vdrawings forming a flattened portions in sockets 22 of the handles part thereof wherein: 2| assure the rotation of the valve stems when Fig. 1 is a front elevation of av gas cooking the handles 2| are turned. The slots 20 enable range having my invention applied thereto; the valve stem I6 to frictionally engage the walls Fig."2 is an enlarged horizontal section taken of the sockets 22 with suiiicient force to retain on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; the handles in place upon the valve stem during Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 50 normal operation. The handles 2| are molded 3;..3 of Fig. 2; from suitable opaque plastic material and are Fig. v4 is a vertical section taken on the line preferably shaped as shown, but can be shaped4 4-4 of Fig. 2; otherwise if desired. Fig. 5 is an enlarged front elevation of vone of A cylindrical ring 30, having the outer end the indicators shown in Fig. 1; 55 thereof closed by a disc 3| which is rigidly secured in place, is disposed about the opening I8 in the escutcheon plate I2. The Valve stem I5 extends out through a central aperture 32 in the disc 3|; and the ring 30 is held against outward movement by the handle 2| which bears against the outer face of the disc 3|. The ring 30 is held against lateral movement by a pair of tongues 35 which engage in slots 36 extending out from the Vopening I8 in the escutcheon plate I2. The y -K u lower half 3'I of the disc 3| is opaque and the upper half is translucent and is divided into three sections 38, 39 and 40 which'are preferablyl of*` different contrasting colors. As shown fin'Figlr* the sections 38, 39 and 4I] may have indicia there` on to indicate whether the burner is set for low,

s'ecuredtothe-outer end of said stem, a ring of opaque-'material removably but non-rotatably securedgto the; front wall of said range between Y ,the said irontuwall and said operating handle medium or high heat. In the absence of` indicia* the contrasting color of the sections 38, 39"and" 40 Will indicate the setting of the burner as will be described. An opaque disc 4| havingr a window 42 therein is secured to the valve stem I6 for ro-V tric bulb- 46 and a switch 41, is associated with each opening I8 in position for theIbulb-S to project-'light out through the opening t8y against the back of the disc 4I.. .Thevalvestems I6 eX- tend throughV the casing 45 and are adapted to open and close the switches 41 when they are turned.fr When the valves I5 are closedthe flattened portions I3 of the valve stems I6 lie parallel to and closelyV adjacent therupper endsl of buttons48, and when .the valve stems are rotated to open the valves I5, therounded sectionsofY the stems `carnthe buttons 48 downwardly closing the switches 41 and energizing the bulbs 46'. lAsa valve stem I6 is turned to open a` valve I5 the window 42 in the disc4| is brought successively behind the translucent sections 38,V 39 andy 40 of the disc' 3|. Light from the bulb 46 will then shine through the Window 4-2 and illuminate the translucent section behind which it happens to be locatedand thus indicate whether the burner is operating at low, medium or high'iiame.

In Figs. '7, 8 and 9 I have shown aa'slightly inodiediorm of my invention. This Yform 0i the invention is very similar to the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the'various parts ofthe two forms-being substantiallyv the same, butar-ranged somewhat diierently with respect to each other. In this form ther disc 4|- is secured to thev` ring.v30 andl the disc 3| is rigidly secured to the valve stem .I3 directlybehind the disc 41|. The-window t2 is preferably disposed above the valve stem I6 as.. shown in Figs. 7 and S, but it may be located differently if desired. As the valvestem 'H5i is turned to open the'valve |5, theibulb .43 is ener"- gized and the translucent.sectionsv 38; 39 and 46 of the` disc 3| are successively brought upl'behind the window 412; Light yfrom thebulb will shine iirst through the translucent section and then'out through the windowf42, giving a visual'in'dicatio ofhow the burner is operating.

When-the invention is used Withlanel'ecti-ic range the stems I6 operate suitable switches which control( the operation of the'fl'ieating ele;- inents. L

From the foregoing itwill-beapparent rthatiI have provided a very: simple, efEective'and-ornaf andsurroundingsaid aperture, a first disc and a 'second'. disc, both 4of said discs being disposed closely' adjacent to eachother within said ring about said operating stern, said iirst disc being rigidly secured to said ring and having at least a portion thereof formed of translucent material with indicia thereon for indicating `different heating conditions of said burner, saidsecond d isc being -formed of opaque, material- V and l rigidly s ecured to said operatingfstemior rotation there? with behind said rst disc, awindow in said-second-disc, and anelectric light bulb niountedrbehind said yenlarged Vaperture';and operatvewhn energized t0 project lightthrough* saidv window and then through said translucent; portion' and render theindicia infront of said Window clearly visible;

2. .In a' device ofv the character described the combination of a heating-element operatively mounted Vina cooking range', a Yrotatable stem-by which operation or" saidfheating element is controlled extending out through an'eniarged aperture'inathe front wall ofk said range,V anfoperating handle removablysecured. tothe outer end'l of said'stem, a ring Oropa/que'y material removably but non-rotatably secured,Vv 'to'V the front wall of said' range betweenv the said iront Wall. and said operating handle and surroundingsaid aperture, a' first disc and ai secondd'i'sc, both ofi said discs being disposedy closelyV adjacent to" eachother Within said -ring ab'outisaid operatingast'eniaid iirst disc being rigidlysecured to'saidring'iand having'at least a'. portion thereof'formedofvr translucentA material with `indicia;- tliereon for. indicating different heating; conditionsfni said-f heating element'. saidsecond'sdiscf being i orrn'edf' of: opaque mat'e1ial'and'-1'ig'idly' secured to said' operating stem for rotationtherew-itl'ivr behind saidist disc,

a'- 'Windowf in saidi secondl disc;y andan; electric vl-igrlit ,bulb mounted behind; saidI enlargedapertre and' operative when energized' to'v projectlight Vthrough said windowv and' then` through said translucent portion and` render the indiciafin frantoi said window clearlyvis-ible;

The followingV references are off. recordfinfthe le of this patent:

UNITED l STATES v'Pn'iE-N'rs Number Narl'ne Y Date 1,070,387 Baidwi'nfer ai. Aug. 19; 1913 1,118,454 weeks Nev. 214,v i914 2,031,327 Lake" Mayas; 1937 2,152,502 schmidt etai Mar: 23,1939 2,494,892 Mayer Jann; 1950 2,494,904 scheidier Jan. 1711950 2541,892' schul-ze Feb. 1a;y 1951 OTHERL REEERENCES General Electric Ranges, 1941, pag'ef.V 

